Portable well derrick



Aug. 19, 1941.

G. K. CLAIRE PORTABLE WELL DERRICK Filed Feb. 27, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet lAug. 19, 1941. G. K. CLAIRE PORTABLE WELL DERRIGK 14 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 27, 1940 Aug. 19, 1941. G. K. CLAIRE l PORTABLE WELL DERRICKFiled Feb. 27, 1940 14 Shets-Sheet 3 y@ f/ We a j f7 Aug. 19, 1941. Q KC;| A|REv 2,253,487

PORTABLE WELL. DERRICK Filed Feb. 27, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aus- 1971941'. a. .*CLAIRE 2,253,481

PORTABLE WELL. DERRIGK Filed Feb. 2'7, 1940' 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 mezza/azAug. 19, 1941. vG. K. CLAIRE oBTABLE WELL DERRIGK Filed Feb. 27, 1940 14Sheets-Sheet 6 Allg. 19, 1941. G K, CLMRE l2,253,487

l 7 1 PORTABLE WELL DERRIQK Filed Feb. v2'?, -1940 14 vsneaks-sheet 7 l@m2 a@ fr 3/ far f5 2A/ef- .Aug.1l9, 19141. v j G, K. CLAIRE l L2,253,487

- PORTABLE WELL DERRI CK j Fi1ed'Feb. 27, 1940 u 14 sheets-sheets Aug..119, 1941. G. K. CLAIRE 2,253,487

PORTABLE wELL DERRIcx Filed Feb. Y27, 1940' 14 sheets-sheet 9 Aug. 19,194i` G. K. CLAIR-E I PORTABLE WELL DERRICK Filed Feb. 2 7, 1940 144Shvee'cs-SheetlO fdp@ Aug 19, 1941 G. K. CLAIRE PORTABLE WELL DERRICKFiled Feb. 27, 1940 14 sheets-sheet i1 G. K. CLAIRE .PORTABLE WELLDERRI-CK I Aug. 19, 1941.

14 sheets-sheet 12 Filed Feb. 27, 1940 w llllllxlv r G. K. CLAIREPORTABLE WELL DERRICK Aug. 19, 1941.

Filed Feb. 27, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 n n n PORTABLE WELL DERRICKFile-d Fehn-,27. 1940 I 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 .Patented Aug. 19, 1941 thirdto Arthur L. Armentrout, one-third to Elwin B. Hall, and one-third toVirgil P. Baker,

LosvAngeles, Calif.

Application February 27, 1940, Serial No. 321,058

21 claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in Well derricks, and primarilyconcerns the construction of a Well derrick used for drilling wells butmay be advantageously used as hereinafter set forth in derricks used forservicing wells.

An object of the invention is to provide a well derrick digned for usewith Well drilling equipment which may be either the rotary typev ofwell drilling equipment or cable tools, the derrick being so constructedthat it is readily portable and yet when set up will be of theconventional size and arrangement enabling conventional items ofequipment such as a draw-works, rotary table, crown block, travellingblocks, band wheels, bull wheels, etc., to be installed therein at theirconventional locations. The standard orv conventional steel derrick thatis now generally erected for oil or gas well drilling purposes has abase or substructure substantially 24 feet square. It has long beendesirable, however, to have a well drilling derrick that is readilyportable from place to place so that the derrick may be used fordrilling a well at one location and thereafter transported to anotherlocationv for drilling another well. Certain difficulties, however, arepresented with respect to constructing a derrick which is readilyportable and which at the same time is of such design that it willaccommodate the items of equipment conventionally employed and havethem. arranged at their conventional locations.

In many states there are laws prohibiting the transportation ofequipment over the state highways where the equipment exceeds 8 feet inwidth without the securing of a special permit for this purpose andcomplying with certain specified regulations. Consequently, it isimpracticable to attempt to bodily transport a conventional welldrilling yderrick over any considerable distance for the reason that thespan of the substructure is frequently as great as the width of theaverage highway. It is of course common practice to skid the rig butthis practice usually has been restricted to situations where thederrick may be transported from place to place without requiringtransportation across or via highways.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a-portable well derrick which can be divided into sections any of whichmay be transported via highway, each section being of such a width thatit will not exceed the maximum width regulations imposed by theabovementioned state laws. vAt the same time, the derrick is so designedthat when parts thereof are assembled itl conforms in size and shape andin arrangement to the standard or conventional well drilling derrickthat is now generally assembled part by part at the well site.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Well drilling derrickconstruction of improved design Which materially reduces the number ofparts required in its construction, and particularly the numberof partsthat must be assembled together at the site of its erection. In thestandard or conventional well drilling derrick the legs of the derrickare joined together by means of gusset plates, girts, and braces, thesebeing assembled and bolted together during the process of erection ofthe derrick. The vertical distance between adjacent girts has generallybeen approximately 7 feet, this-beingthe maximum vertical spacing ofgirts that is generally regarded permissible within the limitsofeconomic leg weights, and further because of the fact that it is aboutthe distance at which a man standing on one girt can bolt on a girttothe legs of the derrick thereabove. By means of the present inventionthe derrick is so constructed that the limitation on vertical girtspacing greatly exceeds 7 feet and the manner of assembling the partsduring erection of the derrick eliminates any limitation arising fromthe relationship between girt spacing and the height of an A BVelageman.

mounted and erected thereon and the central part or section has certainof the members forming its construction readily removable from adjacentits center to one end so that this center .section can be moved onto oroi of a-'well hole without disturbing pieces of equipment therein. Astill further object of the invention is to 'provide a well drillingderrick wherein ythe legs are in the form of teleseoped sections whichmay assume collapsed positions or may be independently hydraulicallyextended, and to provide means for mechanically locking each section inits extended position against collapse within its supporting section.

Itis also an object of the invention to provide a derrick havingtelescopic legs wherein gusset plates are permanently attached to thetops of the telescopic sections and additional gusset plates areadjustable along the length of said sections so as to be capable ofeither assuming positions near the permanently attached gusset plateswhen the legs are collapsed or positions intermediate the ends thereofwhen the sections forming the legs are extended.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved gin poleconstruction wherein the gin -pole legs are capable of telescopingwithin their respective derrick legs or assuming positions projectingtherefrom, the gin pole legs being jointed to permit of their beingswung inwardly from the tops of the derrick legs and suitably connectedtogether.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a Water table for awell derrick with plates positioned at each of the corners thereof bothabove and below the water table beams thereby providing a constructionwhich 'is adequately braced and which adequately braces the derrickagainst deformation by torsional forces or forces which would tend toWarp the derrick from a rectangular cross section into a diamond crosssection.

Many of the features embodied in the present invention have beendesigned primarily for use with portable derrick constructions but maybe adopted and employed in the construction of the conventional orstandard derrick which may be generally regarded as a permanentinstallation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of a portablederrick embodying the present invention, 'the derrick being shown inassembled and erected position;

Fig. 1a is a partial view in elevation illustrating the vtop of thederrick shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one of the outer sections of thederrick substructure, lthe derrick legs being illustrated in collapsedand in reclining position thereon and the section of the substructurebeing shown as having been suitably mounted so as to be susceptible ofbeing readily transported to the desired new location;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the section shown in Fig. 2 andmay be considered as taken in the direction of the arrow 3 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the section shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the central section of the derrickbase or substructure, the same being shown in position wherein it may betransported;

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of the same taken in the direction ofthe arrow 6 upon Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon theline 1-1 upon Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of the derricksubstructure4 illustrating the manner in which the sections thereofv areassembled together to form a completed base or substructure; y

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken through the h base or substructureand may be considered as having been taken substantially upon the line 99 upon Fig. 11;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a prey ferred form of anchoringmeans for anchoring the assembled substructure in position:

Fig.11 is a top plan view of the assembl substructure, the legs beingillustrated as in their folded and collapsed position thereon;

Fig. 12 is a. view in side elevation illustrating the manner in whichthe legs of the derrick are erected into their substantially uprightpositions;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a suitable ladder that may be employedto facilitate the assembling of the various parts of the derrick in thecourse of its erection;

Fig. 14 is 4a View of a clamp that may be employed to hoist girts andbraces;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which thesections of the legs are held ltogether so that upon being extended thesections will be progressively extendedso that the top section is thelast to be projected into its extended position;

Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation of the derrick illustrating the legsas having been erected into upright positions and the iirst girts andbraces installed; this view also illustrates the manner in whichadditional braces and girts may be elevated to their desired positions;

Figs. 17 to 21, inclusive, are views in side elevation of the derrickillustrating the progressive steps that are accomplished in the erectionof the completed derrick;

Fig. 22 is a view in side elevation, parts being broken away and shownin section, illustrating the top of the derrick and the-construction ofthe gin pole thereon; l

Fig. 23 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 23-23upon Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 24-24upon Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a sectional View through a portion of the derrick leg when infully collapsed position illustrating the constructions of the lowerportions of the sections of the leg;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 26-26upon Fig. 27, illustrating the locking means preferably employed forlocking each section in its extended position both against collapse andclamping the same against rotation;

Fig. 27 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 21-21upon Fig. 26;

Fig. 27a is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line21a-21a on Fig. 27;

Fig. 28 is a horizontal section taken through one of the sections of thederrick legs and illustrating the `construction of one of the adjustablegussets which is adjustable along the length thereof;

Fig. 29 is a view in side elevation of the same';l

Fig. 30 is a horizontal section through the bottom of one of the derricklegs illustrating the manner of its attachment to the substructure;

Fig. 31 is a view in side elevation of the bottom of the derrick leg,the derrick leg being shown in upright position in full lines and inreclining position in dotted lines;

Fig. 32 is a top plan view illustrating the assembly of sections of amodified form of derrick construction that may be employed, this form ofconstruction being primarily designed f or the erection of a derrick forpumping purposes and Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken substantiallyupon the line 35-35 upon Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 is a horizontal section through one of the derrick legsillustrating an alternative form of adjustable gusset construction thatmay be employed and may be considered as taken on the line 36-36 uponFig. 37 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 37 is a view in side elevation of the same; Fig. 38 is a horizontalsection through a derrick leg illustrating an alternative form ofstationary or permanent gusset construction that may be optionallyemployed and may be considered as taken on the line 38-38 upon Fig. 39;and

Fig. 39 is a View in side elevation of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved derrickcomprises a base or substructure divided longitudinally into preferablythree independent unitized structures separately transportable fromplace to place. When the site for a well yhas been selected a concretemat indicated at Ill, see Fig. 9, is rst poured to provide an adequatefoundation l on which the derrick may be erected In pouring thisconcrete mat the so-called cellar is dug so as to be arranged around thewell hole and is preferably lined with the concrete. Also, provision ismade for the conventional rat hole to receive the kelly. A timber ormetal mat may be used when desired in place of the concrete mat but as aconcrete mat will usually be found the most suitable, the invention willbe described in connection with the use of that type of mat.

In the concrete mat as shown in Fig. 9, there are embedded suitableanchor bolts II, those being shown having angular lower ends andthreaded upper ends which receive internally threaded sockets I2. Theseanchor bolts are so positioned in the mat that the sockets I2 will lineof the base or substructure of the derrck.

As the conventional well drilling dex-rick has a base or substructure 24feet square and it is the.

purpose of the present invention to provide a derrick that will conformthereto in size, shape, and arrangement, each section of thesubstructure is preferably made 8 feet wide by 24 feet long so that thethree sections when assembled together will provide a derrick floor 24feet by 24 feet. It

will be understood, however, that the present in- 8 feet in width.

'I'he two outer sections of the substructure are in the maincounterparts of each other consist-` ing of an upper'rectangular frameformed of channel irons I3 and I4 vconnected by cross members I5 whichserve to support the planks IS of the derrick floor. The cross membersI5 that connect the channel irons I3 and I4 are preferably welded orotherwise rigidly and permanently fastened thereto. Each outer sectionof the substructure also includes a' pair of lower channel irons I'l andI8 having bolt holes formed therein which receive threaded studs I9adapted to be screwed into the sockets I2 on the anchor bolts II tofirmly fasten each section of the substructure to the concrete mat I0.Supporting posts 'up with bolt holes in the bottom frame members`portion as indicated at Ila, see Fig. 1l.

the end supporting posts being indicated by the l reference character 2land the intermediate supporting posts being indicated by the referencecharacter 22. The end supporting posts may be connected to theiradjacent intermediate supporting posts 22 as by diagonal braces 23welded or otherwise permanently fastened in place. Diagonal bracing 24,see Fig. 9, may connect intermediate supporting posts 22 across theSection of the substructure. This cross bracing preferably is in theform of channel irons arranged backlto back with gusset plates 25connecting the lower ends of the braces to their adjacent supportingposts 22. On the undersides4 of the braces there are welded or otherwisefastened sections of either angle iron or I-beam as indicated at 26 toprovide rests or footings for jacks 21, see Fig. 8. The rear pair of endsupporting posts 2I are connected together by means of an I-beam 28, seeFig. 2, which provides footing for the forward ends of rails 29 of aWheeled dolly. This dolly preferably has upwardly and forwardly inclined`members 30 connected to the rear ends of-the rails and these membersare designed to be detachably fastened as by bolts to the top frame ofthe substructure at the rear thereof. The forward ends of the rails areadapted to be positioned beneath the I-beam 28 and bolted or otherwisefastened thereto to support the section above the ground surface so thatit may be transported from place to place. At the forward end of thesection there is detachably mounted a suitable frame generallydesignated at 3l which likewise serves to support the forward end of thesection in transporting position on the pivot plate 32 of a truck ortractor 33.

i The above-described construction is applicable generally to the twoouter sections generally indicated at 34 and 35 of the substructure ofthe derrick as these two sections are largely counterparts of eachother. There is one difference that should be noted with respect to thetwo outer sections 34 and 35. At least one of these sections in thepreferred form of construction has one of its channel irons forming apart of the top frame provided with a readily removable This readilyremovable portion of the channel iron is normally bolted in placethrough' brackets I4b. Portions of the cross members indicated at I5awhich connect this removable section with longitudinal vbraces I5b arealso readily removable. These parts are made readily removable by merelyhaving them bolted in place. The purpose of having this portion of oneof the outer units of the base or substructure readily removable is toprovide space for moving in a draw-works where the draw-works issupported at a level below that of the derrick floor. If there is nooccasion for installing a draw-Works in this manner then these portionsare allowed to remain in place. The central or intermediate `sectiongenerally indicated at 36 and illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7,and 9 comprises bottom channel irons 3lr anci 38 vequipped with boltholes for the reception of studs adapted to be screwed into the socketsI2 oi its corresponding-anchor bolts that are embedded in the Vconcretemat III. These channel irons are adapted to assume positions side byside with the channel irons of the outer sections 34 and 35 and to bebolted thereto as by bolts 39. In this section of the substructure theintermediate supporting posts indicated at 40 and 4I serve to supportrelatively heavy I-beams 42 and 43 on which are supported transverselyextending rotary table supports 44 and 45 which arer designed to supportthe conventional rotary table of a rotary well drilling apparatus. TheI-beams 42 and 43 are connected by transverse members 46, at least oneof which is readily removable for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.l

In order to render the mentioned transverse member removable it ispreferably bolted in place as distinguished from riveting or welding.Theend supporting posts of the central section indicated at 41 and 48cooperate with the tops of the I-beams 42 and 43 to support upperI-beams 49 and 50 and these supporting posts may be braced as bydiagonal braces I. The I-beams 49 and 56 extend from their respectiveends of the central section inwardly onto the I-beams 42 and 43 butterminate short of the rotary table supports 44 and 45. On these upperI-beams 49 and 50 there are rigidly and permanently secured sections ofchannel irons 52 and 53 adapted to assume abutting relationship withlthe channel irons I4 of the two outer sections 34 and 35, and to bebolted thereto as by bolts 54. together by means of transverse members55 and at least from the center of the section to one end thereof all ofthese transverse members are readily removable, being merely bolted inplace rather than riveted or welded. These transverse members as Well asthe transverse members 46 are readily removable so that on completion ofthe well they may be taken out to permit of the central section beingdrawn olf of the mat H) without interfering with the structure that maybe aflixed to the `well head such as for example the Christmas tree.Usually ,the Christmas tree will not be arranged so high as to interferewith parts disposed at the level of the channel irons 52 and 53, andconsequently if desired, the transverse members 56 which conneet thechannel irons 52 and 53 and serve to support the derrick floor onopposite sides of the rotary table -need not be made removable unlessdesired.

In the construction of this center section .the rear supporting posts 41are preferably connected by a removable transverse I-beam 51 whichprovides a footing for the forward ends of a welded dolly 58 which issimilar in construction to the welded dolly heretofore described inconnection with the outer sections 34 and 35. The forward end of thecentral section 36 is likewise equipped with a removable framework 59 bywhich it may be supported on the pivot plate of a truck or tractor 60whereby the central section may be supported in elevated position fortransporting itfrom place to place.

When the concrete mat has hardened the three sections 34, 35, and 36 maybe moved thereon by means of their tractors and dollies and low' eredinto proper position with respect to the anchor bolts. The studs maythen be inserted into the sockets and the three sections tightened inplace and bolted to each other as by means of the bolts 39 and 54. The.lowering of the sections in place is accomplished by means of the jacks21, see Fig. 8. These jacks may be placed beneath the respectivesections and the sections elevated sufficiently to permit of detachmentof the dollies and of the frameworks 3| and 53 so as to release theseparts for transportation of The upper I-beams 49 and 50 are connectedother derricks. When the dollies and tractors have been detached thejacks 21 are used to lower the sections in place following which thejacks may be removed.

With the sections of the substructure thus as sembled and installed onthe concrete mat the construction is then ready for the erection of thederrick itself.

Adjacent each outer corner of the outer sections 34 and 35 there ishingedly mounted a.

footing 6l for a derrick leg, the hinge therefor r being indicated at62, see Figs. 30 and 31. These footings when swung into the full lineposition shown in Fig. 31 are adapted to be rigidly fastened in thisposition such as by bolts 63. Each footing has mounted thereon a tubularsection 64 which constitutes the lowermost and outermost section of atelescopic leg adapted to be hydraulically extended or projected. Tothis end the outermost section is preferably equipped with a suitablefitting 65 providing for the attachment of a tubular means that willconvey liquid under pressure to the interior of the telescopic leg. Theconstruction of the footing 6I is such that when it is in the full lineposition shown in Fig. 1 that the leg will not be vertically arrangedbut instead will be merely upright inclining somewhat inwardly over thederrick floor in conformance with conventional derrick construction.

Adjacent the corners of the outer sections 34 and 35 of the substructuresuitable provision is made for mounting thereon a gin pole construction86 which can be used to swing the telescopic legs from their recliningpositions into their upright positions, see Fig. 12. This gin poleconstruction may be equipped with block and tackle 81 adapted to beconnected to the lowermost section 64 of each leg. The gin poleconstruction 66 may be moved from corner to corner to erect each leg andfollowing the bolting down of the footing 6l the leg is in a position tobe extended.

Each leg is preferably formed of four telescopic tubular sectionsindicated respectively at 64, 66, 61, and 68 capable of assumingcollapsed positions one within the other. At the lower end of eachsection there is provided a suitable tubular type piston, the pistonsbeing generally designated at 69, which are preferably equipped Withannular packing leathers 16. The packing leather 10' on piston |01 maybe of the cup type as the projecting fiuid need not pass therethrough.Each piston is designed to snugly fit within the section of the leg inwhich it is disposed so that when hydraulic pressure is forced into thelower leg 64 through fitting 65 the sections may be extended upwardly.

At the upper end of each leg section 64, 66, 61,

.and 6B there are welded or otherwise rigidly o1' permanently fastenedangular gussets, the wings of which are indicated at 1l and 12. TheSegussets are designed to have attached thereto girts 13 and braces 14.Adjustable gussets 15 are also disposed on the sections 66. 61 and 68.'I'hese adjustable gussets, as shown in Fig. 28, have wings 16 and 11which Iare rigid with a body 18 which may be loosened or tightened bymeans of a bolt 19. The sections 66, 61, and 68 of each leg are equippedwith small collars which are equal in diameter to the pistons 69 onthese sections. It will be understood that each section 66, 61, and 68is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the section in which it isdisposed so that there will be a minimum of frictional engagementbetween each section and the next outer section within which it istelescoped. When the legs are in collapsed position the adjustablegussets shown in Fig. 28 are loosened and occupy positions adjacent thepermanent gussets 12. However, when the legs are projected theadjustable gussets may slide down on their respective sections untilthey encounterr the collars 80 and may then be. tightened in placeproviding for attachment of some of the girts 13 and braces. Thelowermost leg is preferably provided with step spikes 8| permanentlyattached thereto and this section of the leg preferably has gussets 82permanently fastened thereto intermediate its ends.

It is desirable in extending each leg to have the sections progressivelyextended, that is, to have sections y66 extended from section 64 whilesections 81 and 68 remain in theirv collapsed positions. Then, whensection 66 has been extended to extend section 61 with section 68remaining in its collapsed position, and finally, to extend section 68after section 61 has been fully extended. v

To this end a series of ties or connectors are provided as illustrated'in Fig. 15. These ties or connectors are in the form of turnbuckles 83.

having angular ends -as at 84 which may be inserted in bolt holes formedin the permanently attached gussets o f the sections of the telescopiclegs. Thus, when a leg is erected and is about to be extended thelowermost connector may be disconnected permitting section 66 to beextended from section 64 while the remaining sec'- tions remain fastenedtogether. Then the additional4 connectors can be progressively detachedand removed. Prior to the extension of the leg it is customary toinstall the lower girt 13 and the various lower braces 88 leaving theconventional opening or window 88 as illustrated in Fig. 16. Thelowermost connectors or turnbuckles 83 are then removed and` section 68extended from section 64 by introducing hydraulic pressure through tting65. On extension of the section 66 the adjustable gussets 15` slidevdownwardly thereon until they encounter the collar 80. A ladder 80, seeFig. 13, equipped with hangars 8| may be hooked'over the stationarygussets at the top of section 66 enabling a man to iclimb the ladder tothe location of collar 80 to tighten the adjustable gussets in placeagainst the collars. l

Provision is made for locking the projected or extended sections of thetelescopic legs against collapse and clamping' them against rotationrelatively to each other. To this end the top of each of sections 64,66, and 61 of the legs are equipped with collars 82, see Figs. 26, 27,and 27a. .On each collar there is positioned a split collar, thesections of which are indicated at 83 and 94. The sections of the spliticoilar are equipped with siots 85 through which 'bolts 86 extend. Thesesections may be expanded 'as indicated by the section 83 on Fig. 26 topermit the extension. of the inner section of the leg. When the innersection has been fully extended by the hydraulic pressure the sections93 and 84 which have been loosened by the unscrewing of the bolts 96 areurged toY slide toward each other or to contract by means of a tensionspring 81. When the inner section reaches its fully extended positionthe sections of the split collar that are on the outer section of theleg contract and enter a groove located on the piston of the innersection. These sections 83 and 84 have upwardly inclined shoulders whichilt in t-he undercut top of the groove as shown in Fig.

27, thereby resisting outward movement of the sections of the splitcollars when the leg is subjected to loading. Bolts 88 extend looselythrough holes in ears formed on the sections of the split collar and canthen be tightened to clamp the sections of the split collar about theextended section and hold it against rotation. Following this the bolts86 are tightened, to fasten the split collar Ailrnlly on collar 82.

The sections 83 and 84 must be capable of passing over the collars andany other minor shoulders that may be present on the leg sections.

To this end, the bottom internal corners of the v sections 83 and 84 arebeveled oi as indicated at 83a so that as a leg section is :beingextended when the collar 80 or any other corresponding shoulder thereonencounters these beveled corners it will merely separate the sections83and 84 overcoming the contracting action of the tension spring 81.When the groove is encountered these sections snap into the groove toprevent Athe leg sections from being extended too far. As clearly vshownon Figs. 27 and 27a each piston 68 has a circumferential row of socketsformed therein within which balls 69a. are disposed.' These sockets maybe formed with a round-ended boring tool to the proper depth and whenthe balls are disposed therein the balls are intended to snugly fit androll against the interior of the outer leg section thus forming a typeof anti-friction bearing facilitating the telescopic movement of the legsections. The ballsmay be retained in their' respective sockets byslightly peening over the metal of the piston adjacent each socket. In asimilar manner, sockets 68h may be formed in the top of each outersection extending into the collar 82 and balls 68o may be positionedtherein and retained by peening the metal adjacent the sockets. Theseballs need only be arranged opposite that portion of the leg sectionthat is to be innermost as clearly shown in Fig. 27a, it beingunderstood that the legs oi? the derrick incline inwardly over thesubstructure. Balls located at these points will ordinarily sumce as theinclination of the legs that are being projected causes the load to beconcentrated in this direction. These balls likewise serve to reducefriction during extension of the legs.

On top of each uppermost section 68 of the telescopic legs there isdisposed a top plate |00 which is angular in plan (see Figs. 23 and 24)and which is welded not only to the top of the uppermost section 68 butalso to the top permanent gussets thereon. The angle is located adjacentthe top of the leg so that the top plate extends in two directions atsubstantially right angles from the leg. Mountedpreferably -on these topplates on the derrick legs are suitable clevises for the attachment ofblocks |01 'which enable the various braces and girts to be hoisted bymeans of lines |02 as illustrated on Fig. 16. The lines employedpreferably have clevises |03 having spring actuated plungers |04 thereonas illustrated in Fig. 14. These plungers are adapted to be insertedinto bolt holes in the braces and girts and being urged by means ofsprings into closed position, there is little danger of the bracing orgirts becoming loosened and dropped during the hoisting thereof.

In Figs. 1'1 to 21, inclusive, I have illustrated the various steps oferecting the derrick progressively from the initial position wherein thetelescopic legs are erected into upright positions fhile collapsed andthen progressively extended. twill be appreciated that the derrickprogresses .pwardly section by section, each section being qual inheight to one of the telescopic sections hat form the legs. In erectingav derrick emodying the invention it will be understood that he distancebetween adjacent derrick girts may xceed considerably the distance of 7feet. In .ddition the present invention permits eflicient .ssembly ofderrick girts spaced well in excess f llil feet apart inasmuch as theladder illustrated n Fig. 13 may be progressively shifted from ower toupper sections to enable the tightening I the adjustable gussets on thesections and the olting of girts and braces thereto. The pre- 'erredmanner of using the ladder is to position yhe ladder against the outerside of a leg section, looking its hangers over the tops of the wings ifthe permanent plates of a leg section telescoped ;herein. This resultsin the ladder being raised with the telescoped leg section as thatsection is extended or elevated and permits workmen climbng thereon totighten the adjustable gusset plate Jn the extended section and toattach the girts and braces 13 and 14 to the gusset plates. When thegirts are attached to the permanent gusset plates at the top of theextended leg section workmen may stand on such girts and left ladder andhang its hangers on the wings of the permanent gusset plates of the legsection that is to be next extended so as to be raised therewith.

In the uppermost section 60 of each leg there is telescoped a gin polemember, see Fig. 22. Each gin pole member comprises a tubular section|05 capable of telescoping within the upper section and having a pivotedor hinged joint at |06 connecting it to a piston |01 similar inconstruction to the pistons on. the telescopic leg sections. On theupper ends of the tubular sections |05 there are eyes |08 or theequivalent engageable by latches |09 on the top plates |00 to hold thesesections in collapsed position until the latches are released. These ginpole members can then be hydraulically extended from the tops of thederrick legs and when they reach their fully extended position thetubular` sections |05 can be swung inwardly by means of the pivotedjoint |06 so that their upper ends will be disposed adjacent each other.A cap having studs i|| capable of entering the tops of the gin polemembers is then applied and the adjustable gussets ||2 are attachedthereon and tightened in a position intermediate the ends of the ginpole members and are thereafter connected by braces |i3. The cap i0 isequipped with a hook ||4 enabling the water table beams ||5 to bebrought up and placed on the top plates |00. These water table beams arebolted to the top plates |00 and as the top plates are angular theyserve to resist deformation of the derrick by torsional forces, or inother words, they resist the derrick lbecoming diamond-shaped in crosssection when under load.

On top of the water table beams there are additional angular plates |00awhich cooperate with the angular plates |00 in resisting warping ordeformation of the derrick f-rom its correct rectangular shape.

Asy clearly shown in Fig. 22, it is unnecessary to provide anyparticular locking means for locking the gin pole members in theiruppermost positions in asmuch as the lower ends of the sections |05 whenthey are swung out of alignment with the legs will have their lower endsshouldering on the top plates |00. With the water table beams installedand bolted to the top plates and angular corner plates |00a boltedthereto, the crown block ||1 may be elevated and installed whichcompletes the erection of the derrick.

It will be noted from the above-described construction that although theder-rick is portable l in three separate sections these may be assembledtogether and the derrick erected in such a manner as to employconventional cable tool or rotary well drilling equipment such as theconventional rotary table, draw-works, etc., and as the door plan is ofthe same size and shape of the conventional derrick the variouspositions of the equipment may be arranged at the same locations as inthe conventional derrick.

When the well has been completed the derrick can be transported, wherethe configuration of the ground and other conditions will permit, to anew location without dismantling as all of the sections of thesubstructure may be allowedto remain fastened ltogether and thesubstructure with the derrick thereon may be bodily lifted by means ofjacks onto the dollies and tractors and the entire structure moved asdesired. On the other hand, if conditions are such that the derrick needbe transported via highway, or it is otherwise unfeasible to transportthe derrick in its erected position, it may be easily and quicklydismantled by unbolting girts and braces and allowing the gin polemembers to collapse within the legs and the leg sections to collapsewithin each other. When the legs are fully collapsed they may be swungdownwardly by means of the gin pole construction 86 into positions lyinglengthwise along the outer sections. These reclining collapsed legsoccupy only a small portion of the i'loor space on the outer sections 34and 35 and the remaining space may be utilized to carry various girtsand braces and other pieces of equipment while the sections of thesubstructure are being individually transported from place to place.Usually the derrick will not be .removed f-rom the well until after theinstallation of the Christmas tree which, as above explained, ispositioned normally below the top channel members of the center section36 of the substructure. As all transverse members of the center sectionfrom its center to one end below these upper channel members are readilylremovable the center section can be easily withdrawn from the well overthe installed Christmas tree without disturbing the "Christmas tree. Itwill thus be appreciated thatby means of the improved derrick the totalnumber of parts required for the construction of the derrick is greatlyreduced from that of the conventional derrick and in. addition there ispresent the important advantage of having the construction lreadilyportable and capable of being easily and quickly erected.

In Figs. 32 to 35, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified oralternative form of construction primarily designed for servicing a wellwhich has been drilled and once placed on production. In Fig.v 32 thereis illustrated a concrete mat |25 which may have had thereon concretepillars |26 which serve as foundations for a conventional well drillingderrick which on completion .of the well was torn down and removed. Theinvention has been illustrated as applied to this type of mat toillustrate that this form of derrick may be used either where the wellhas been drilled by means of a portable well drilling derrick aspreviously described, or in situations where the well has been drilledby a conventional well drilling

